Charlotte Housing Trust Fund

As the City of Charlotte considers its budget for next year, I ask that fellow citizens support increasing the Housing Trust Fund to $30 million dollars.  Charlotte has an embarrassing shortage of affordable housing, and even some of that isn't as affordable as you might think.  Over the past month, staff at the Men's Shelter have helped about a dozen men move out of the shelter and into a place of their own.  With almost 500 men staying in the shelter each night, a dozen sounds like an awfully small number.  However, with the extreme shortage of housing with rents less than $400 per month, you wonder how in the world were a dozen men able to find a place they could afford.

This week the City Council held an public hearing regarding the upcoming budget.  A bunch of people, prompted mainly by the advocacy committee of the Homeless Services Network, turned out in force to speak in favor of increasing funding for the Housing Trust Fund to $30 million dollars.  They spoke of the hundreds of millions of dollars the city plans to spend on roads, sidewalks, and curbs in contrast to the $10 million proposed for the Trust Fund.  By the way, of that $10 million, $7.5 million has already been designated for projects, leaving just $2.5 million for affordable housing over the NEXT FOURS YEARS!

One of the speakers was Anthony Spinner, a former guest at the Men's Shelter of Charlotte and active alumni in our Peer Advisory Committee.  Mr. Spinner spoke of his difficulties finding employment, but took solace in having a place of his own to call home.  He talked about those who continue to experience homelessness because there is no where for them to live that they can afford.  A number of other speakers also shared their trouble obtaining affordable housing and desire for fellow homeless citizens to be able to leave the shelters for a place of their own.  This will only happen when Charlotte puts as much emphasis on truly affordable housing as it does on roads, entertainment venues, and skyscrapers. 

Please join me and the Men's Shelter in supporting a humanitarian cause - providing affordable housing that our most vulnerable citizens can afford.  Support a $30 million dollar affordable Housing Trust Fund.  Call your City Council member.  Mr. Spinner made his voice be heard.